Rectifying system



RECTIFYING SYSTEM Filed March 12, 1942 LOAD INVENTOR 0. E TRUCKSESS A TTORNEY Patented May 23, 1 944 2,349,005 momma, srs'rm David E.

Summit, N. 1., asaignor to Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 12, 19l2,-Serial No. 434,346

6 Claims. (Cl. 175463) This invention relates to rectiiying systems.

An object of the invention is the provision or an inexpensive regulating system for alternating current rectlflers for use under conditions of low voltage and low power.

In accordance with the invention a rectifier of the varistor type is supplied with alternating current energy through a main transformer connected to a source of alternating current. An auxiliary transformer also connects the varistor rectifier to the source of alternating current through a variable bridge circuit which is so controlled by rectified current from the output of the rectifier that the electromotive force derived from the auxiliary transformer aids or opposes the electromotive force irom the main transformer in varying degree in such manner as to tend to hold substantially constant the output terminal unidirectional electromotive force supplied by the rectifier to its load circuit.

In the drawing.

Fig. 1 illustrates schematically th circuits of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 that of an alternative form; and

Fig. 3 that of a third modification.

Referring to Fig. 1, a source I of alternating current energy to be rectified is connected by the transformer 2 having a primary 3, a main secondary winding l and a split auxiliary winding 5, 6 to a tour-arm bridge rectifier i of wellknown type. The bridge elements are preferably varistors of the selenium or copper oxide types. An alternating electromotive force is impressed by secondary winding 4 upon terminals 8. 9 of the bridge, and from its alternate terminals I0, I i the output circuit of the rectifier supplies unidirectional current by way oi a smoothing filter I! to a load I8. The load I! may be an energy consuming or translating device of any kind such as a. lamp, heater, storage battery to be charged, or the like. .The smoothing filter consists of a suitably designed series choke II and a shunt capacitor i5.

Across the load input terminals l8, l1 a potentiometer it is connected to provide a unidirectionai regulating potential which tends to vary with variations in the alternating electromotlve force across primary winding 3 and also with variations in the load energy delivered by secondary winding 4. rectifier bridge I and smoothing filter l2 tothe load i3.

Auxiliary secondary windings 5 and 5 constitute two arms of a four-arm bridge circuit of which capacitor I! and auxiliary varistor rectifier are the third and fourth arms, respectively. 65 21 Between the normal equal potential points of the bridge-is connected the primary winding 23 of a regulating transformer, the secondary winding 14 0! which is connected in series with winding I in the input circuit of the main varlstor rectifier I. Since the net input electromotive force impressed upon rectifier I depends upon the vector sum of the electromotive force from secondary winding 4 and the regulating transformer winding 24. it is possible, by reversing the latter electromotive force to make it aid or oppose the principal electromotive force at will. Moreover, bycausing the auxiliary electromotive force to vary in accordanc with the rectified output potential across points l8, ll of the main rectifier. it is possible to so regulate the input alternating electromotlve force applied to the rectifier as to maintain the rectified output potential substantially constant. To do this a variable tap II of potentiometer ill and the terminal II are connected by leads 21, 28 to terminals 20 and II of the varistor rectifier 20. A smoothing capacitor ii is connected across leads 2! and 28 to effectively short circuit ripple electromotive forces appearing across terminals 29, Ill.

In operation the current in primary windin 23 is the difference between the current supplied by winding 5 to capacitor is and that supplied by winding 8 to rectifier ill. 11 windings i and 8 provide equal electromotive forces and if the impedances of capacitor i9 and rectifier 20 are equal the current through winding 23 will be zero. It follows that the magnitude of the current through winding 23 and moreover its phase will depend upon the impedance of rectifier ll. As the impedance of the rectifier increases beyond that of capacitor I! the current through winding 23 will increase in one direction; as the impedance of rectifier 20 decreases below that of capacitor It the current, through winding 23 will likewise increase, but its phase will be opposite to that of its normal condition. When, therefore, the impedance of the varistor arm 20 is at its minimum value the primary 2! of the regulating current transformer is essentially connected across the winding I and the phase relations are so preselected that the secondary electromotlve iorce oi winding 2! adds algebraically with the electromotive force of winding & to produce the maximum alternating current electromotive force applied to the main amplifier I which then delivers the maximum unidirectional output current. When, on the contrary. the impedance of the varistor 20 is maximum the primary winding is connected efiectively to the winding 6 through the capacitor I! and the secondary electromotive force of secondary winding N is than approximately 180 degrees out or phase with the electromotive iorce induced in winding 4 so that the net electromotive force applied to the main rectifier I is the algebraic diilerence oi the two. Under these conditions the rectifier I delivers minimum unidirectional output current to the load. Thus the variation in impedance oi the varistor It provides at times an aiding or boosting electromotive force and at other times an opposing or bucking electromotive i'orce to control the unidirectional output potential oi the rectifier.

The impedance oi varistor rectifier 2| in the loop paths I. ll, 13 in alternating currents which the winding I impresses upon the loop is dependent upon the unidirectional electromotive icrce applied over circuit 21, 2| to the terminals ll, 8| or the rectifier 3|. H the unidirectional electromotive iorce applied over leads 21, II is of such polarity as to tend to cause current to fiow through varistor 2| in its high impedance direction, it will cause the alternating current impedance of the rectifier for currents from winding to increase thus permitting current through capacitor H to predominate in the winding II. when, on the contrary, the rectifier unidirectional potential across points II, I! falls in consequence of reduction or the electromotive force applied by source I or in consequence of increased potential drops occasioned in the main transformer. main rectifier and smoothing filter by increased current to the load It. the potential produced across terminals 2|, 8| by varistor I| will exceed that supplied from the potentim eter II. The varistor 2| will therefore supply unidirectional current over the path TI. 2| to potentiometer il. Underthese conditions varistcr 20 will act as a low impedance with respect to electromotive forces from winding and the alternating current in winding 18 will reverse in phase and will increase as the varistor impedance decreases. By choosing the position of the tap 2| properly the system may operate to hold the unidirectional potential across points i6. i1 substantially constant.

In Fig. 2 like elements are designated by the same reference characters as in Pig. 1. The modifications are in the regulating circuit. In lieu oi the capacitor ll of Fig. 1 a fixed resistor 32 is employed and in lieu oi varistor 2| a saturable reactor 33 is provided with two windings II and 3! associated with the saturating winding 8| on a common magnetic core structure in well-known fashion so that no alternating electromotive force is induced in the saturating winding by the opposed fluxes of winding 84 and 8| but the saturating winding varies the magnetic fields and hence the impedances presented by the windings 84 and It. Ii desired. a direct current amplifier ll 01 well-tnown kind may be introduced into the regulating circuit to increase the relative magnitude of the unidirectional potential variations appearing across potentiometer It The operation of this circuit will be readily understood without further explanation since the current in the winding 18 will increase and will change in phase exactly as in the case 01' Fig. l with variations in unidirectional potential impressed by potentiometer i| upon the regulating circuit.

The circuit 01' Fig. 8 is somewhat more complex but has the advantage of greater flexibility in adjustment for varying conditions. It difiers assaeee iied potential appearins in the alternate terminalsoivaristor l|iaintroducedseriallyintothe regulating circuit 01 the reactor II. The circuit is so that the unidirectional output electromotive tom 01 the rectifier 8| is opposed in the regulating circuit to the output electromotive force delivered by the direct current amplifier 31. Consequently. the resultant current that fiows through the sanirating winding 8| of reactor It undergoes a relatively greater change and so likewise does the saturation or the reactor. Thus by comparing the unidirectional electromotive iorce oi rectifier 3|, which reflects the electro motive force or winding I, with the unidirectiona potential derived from the potentiometer, which reflects the eiiect or varying load conditions, a very much greater change in the saturating currentmaybehadwithasmall changeintheunidirectional output electromotive force applied to the main rectifier I to the load ll. Expressed somewhat diflcrently the variation in the saturation current is more than proportional to thr variation in potential 0! the rectified output cur rent at the input as measured at the terminals oi the load. A large capacitor 4| functions in the circuit as does capacitor 3| 0! Fig. i to reduce ripples appearing across the output of the auxiliary rectifier.

What is claimed is:

l. A self-regulating rectifying system for con vetting alternating current energy into unidireg tional current energy comprising a rectifier hat/g ing an alternating current input circuit and unidirectional current output circuit including terminals to which a unidirectional current load may be connected, alternating potential regulating means connected in the input circuit to cause an alternating electromotive force to be applied thereto to augment or oppose the electromotive force applied to the rectifier input circuit as thQ rectified unidirectional potential across the out put circuit terminals falls or rises respectively and means electrically connected to the output terminals and connected in energy control re lation to the alternating potential regulatin means for reversing the phase oi the alternatin electromotive force applied by the regulatin means whenever the load potential of the rectified unidirectional current passes through a predeter mined normal value whereby the unidirectional potential difference between the output terminal' tends to remain substantially constant.

2. Apparatus for converting the energy at alternating current into unidirectional current. energy of substantially constant potential com prising a rectifier, input terminals and output terminals connected thereto, an input circui connected to the input terminals and inclu means for impressing on the rectifier a main alternating current electromotive force to be rec tified and an auxiliary electro-motive force to aid or oppose the main electromotive force. a source of auxiliary alternating current electromotiw force, a four-arm bridge circuit connecting tk source to the means for applying the auxilia electromotive force to the input circuit. a path connected across the output circuit terminals oi the rec er to receive unidirectional current; therefrom and also including one arm of the four-arm bridge, said included bridge arm have.

ing an impedance which varies with electric current therethrough whereby a variation in the output terminal potential of the rectifier tends to alter the auxiliary alternating electromotive force supplied from the source of auxiliary current through the bridge to the input circuit of the rectifier.

3. In a system for rectifying alternating current energy and regulating the potential of the output unidirectional current, a rectifier, an input circuit and an output circuit each connected thereto, a source of alternating current to be rectified, a main energy transfer means connecting the source to the input circuit to apply an electromotive force to be rectified, an auxiliary energy transfer means connecting the source to the input circuit to apply a controlling electromotive force thereto in series with the electromotive force to be rectified, said auxiliary connecting means including a varistor, and means connected to two points in the output circuit across which constant potential is desired and also connected to the varistor to apply to the varistor energy varying with the unidirectional output potential to cause the auxiliary energy transfer means to apply a controlling electromotive force to the input circuit which is of such phase as to aid the electromotive force applied by the main energy transfer means when the unidirectional output potential is below a predetermined desired magnitude and to oppose the electromotive force applied by the main energy transfer means when the unidirectional output potential is above the predetermined desired magnitude.

4. A rectifying system comprising a rectifying device having input terminals and output terminals, a winding in which an alternating electromctive force to be rectified may be induced, a secondary winding in which a control electromotive force may be induced, means connecting said windings in series to said input terminals, a source of control energy, a four-arm bridge connecting said source to said secondary winding, one arm of the bridge comprising a saturable reactor, and means connected to said output terminals and to the reactor to cause the saturation of the reactor to vary with the potential across said output terminals whereby the control energy eleeti'omotive force impressed upon said secondary winding from the source of control energy tends to cause the unidirectional potential across the output terminals to remain substantially constant.

5. A rectifying system comprising a rectifier, input terminals and output terminals connected thereto, a circuit connecting a source of alternating current to the input terminals, and means for maintaining substantially constant the potential of the unidirectional output current as measured across the output terminals of the rectifier said means comprising a four-arm bridge constituting the energy transfer path of the connecting circuit, one arm of'the bridge comprising a saturable reactor and a varistor connected in a path linking the output terminals and the saturable reactor to cause the energy transfer characteristic of the connecting circuit to vary with the unidirectional potential across the output terminals.

6. In combination, a rectifier having input terminals and output terminals, a source of alternating current energy. means connecting the source to the input terminals of the rectifier to aPDLY an electromotive force to be rectified, means also connecting the source to the rectifier for supplying a control electromotive force of variable magnitude and of reversible phase thereto and a controlling circuit connecting the output terminals of the rectifier to the second means to determine the magnitude and phase of the control electromotive force, said controlling circuit including means for deriving from the output terminals a unidirectional potential dependent upon the rectified output potential and including in series opposing relation thereto 1:. rectifier receiving alternating current energy from said source whereby the resultant current in the controlling circuit varies in a manner more than proportional to the rectified output potential.

DAVID E. TRUCKSESS. 

